Motor-vehicle.



No. 689,5". Patented Dec. 24, 190|. R'. E. 0LDS.

MUTOR VEHICLE.

(Appncazion fund nu. 15, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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RANsoM E. oLDs, on DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFILCATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,511, dated December 24. 1901.

0 Application led March 15,1901l Serial No. 51,362. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, RANSOM E. OLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to motor-vehicles,and more particularly to the construction of the frame thereof.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a construction in which the motor and driving mechanism,as well as the,body,are supported upon springs and at the saine time one in which the axles are held in parallel vertical planes,but free to have an angular movement in relation to each other within said planes.

It is a further object to obtain a simple and inexpensive construction to build.

Vith these objects in view the invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a vehicle-frame, showing the body in Fig. 2 is a detail view of the connection between the springs and the axles, and Fig. 3 is a detail of the flexible connection between the frame and the body of the vehicle. Fig. 4 is a cross-section in the plane of the rear axle.

The, improved construction comprises, essentially, a spring frame or reach connected at opposite ends, respectively, to the front and rear axles, and centrally supporting the motor drive mechanism and the vehicle-body.

In detail, A is a rigid frame, preferably rectangular in form and forming a direct support for the motor. (Indicated in dotted lines at 15.)' Projecting from the front and rear ends of this frame and upon opposite sides thereof are downwardly-inclined spring-arms C. These are preferably in the form of leafsprings, which at their inner ends are rigidly secured to the frame A, the lower leaf of each spring being connected to the axle.

D is a fitting for connecting each of said springs with the front axle, which comprises a ring or bearing embracing the axle, and riveted or otherwise secured to lower leaf of the spring.

The front axle E may be of any desired construction,provided with pivotedstub-axles a at opposite ends ofthe center section h', said stub-axles being connected by the rock-arms c and links d to the rock-arm e on the steering-post F.

The rear axle G comprises a casingffor inclosing the compensating gear, andthe tubular casings g, extending from opposite sides of said casing fand provided at their outer ends with roller-bearings g. vWithin this hollow casing are arranged the two sections h and t' of the driving-shaft, which are connected to each other through the medium of the compensating gear. The latter comprises oppositely-arranged beveled gears j and 7", secured, respectively, to the axle-sections, and a surrounding casing j2, inclosing said gears and sleeved uponthe hubs thereof. 'lhe casingj2 is provided upon its periphery with sprocket-teeth j 3.

t7'4 represents stub-axles projecting inwardly into the casingj 2, upon which are sleeved the pinions jfl, forming intermediates between the opposite beveled gears j and j.

The rear axle is secured to the spring-arms C by fittings D. .Each of these fittings comprises a split ring embracing the axle-casing and having formed therein a socket D2 for receiving the end of said spring-arm.

D3 is a clamping-bolt for drawing the two sections of fitting together, the arrangement beiugsuch that the tightening of the bolts will clamp both the fitting to said axle-casing and the spring-arm in its socket. At the rear end of the socket is arranged a screw la, adapted to bear against the end of the springarm and forming an adjusting means for tightening the drive-chain connecting to the compensating gearing.

The body of the vehicle K is supported upon the frame A and preferably has a yielding connection therewith. This connection comprises a bracket J, secured to the frame A, which has a laterally-projecting portion J', apertured at J2.

H is a rod or bolt passing through the aperture J2 and secured at its lower end to the IOO ' rigid motor-frame, having the motor secured steering-wheels pivoted to the ends of the Yof said rolls, as shown in Fig. 4.

sill K of the body, preferably by passing! through a plate H', bolted to saidsill.

I and I are elastic washers or cushions sleeved upon the bolt I-I upon opposite sides of the bracket J.

With the construction as above described the frame A is permitted 'to oscillate vertically by the spring-arms C, connecting il to the axles. At the same time this oscillation does not interfere with the drive connection between the compensating gear and the mofor. The body K is also free to have a limited independent movement from the vehicleframe, which diminishes the jarof sudden starting or stopping or the passing over of an obstruction in the road.

As the body ofthe vehicle moves independently from the frame and axles, the steeringpost is preferably provided with a spring-section permitting of attaching its upper and lower ends, respectively, to the vehicle-body and the axle E. As shown, this spring-section comprises a double Lelliptic spring Z, arranged to lie in a vertical plane extending upon opposite sides ofthe steering-post. The upper and lower portions of' this spring are respectively connected to the upperandlower sections mand n, of the steering-post, the latter being pivoted to thc axle E and the former being secured in bearings on the vehiclebody. It will be understood that such a post while transmitting the rotary movement of thesteering-handle to the rock-arm e does not interfere with the free movement of the body Kin relation to the axle. It will also Ibe observed that'as the whole frame is inthe form of an upward bowed leaf-spring it will form an easy support for the `vehicle-body.

In order to form an eiiicient and yet inexpensive form of roller-bearing for the driveaxle, rings or collars g2 are Vpreferably secured within'the tubular casing g, near the outer ends thereof and adjacent to the compensating gearing. The rolls g are then placed between said end collars and the wheel-hubs and between the intermediate collar and compensating gear, and washers g5 are preferably arranged at the opposite ends What I claim as my inventionis- 1. In a motor-vehicle the combination of a thereto, spring-arms rigidly secured to said frame at the sides and extending to the 'front and rear with a downward inclination, axles secured to the outer ends thereof, a drive connection from the motor to the rear axle, and

front axle.

2. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a rigid motor-frame, forming a support for the motor and drive mechanism, pairs of straight leaf-springs projecting in inclined planes respectively forward and rearward from said frame having a horizontal portion rigidly7 secured to the frame at the sides thereof, axles connected to the free ends of said'springs, and a body secured to said frame independent of the motor.

3. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a rigid motor-frame, having the motor secured thereto, springarms rigidly secured to said frame at the sides and extending to the front and rear with a downward inclination, axles vsecured to the outer ends thereof, a drive connection from the motor to the rear axle, steering-wheels pivoted to the ends of the front axle, and a'body secured to the motorframe'independentl-y of the motor.

4. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of forward and rear axles, a central rigid frame, pairs of spring-arms. proj ectin g forwardly and rearwardly from said frame and-connected at their free ends to said axles, a body'supported upon said central frame,a-nd. yielding connections between said frame and body.

5. In a motor-vehicle,atitting for connecting the reach with th'e'axle comprising aring for embracing said axle having a socketfor receiving the end of said reach, said ring being split longitudinally Vof said socket and a bolt for drawing together the portions on opposite sides of-said split to clamp both axle and reach. K

6. In a motor-vehicle, the combinationwith a motor-supporting 'frame therefor, an axle and a chain drive connection between said motor and axle, of an arm extending from said frame in proximity to 'said axle and a fitting for connecting Vsaid arm `to said axle, comprising Va ring embracing said axle having a socket for receiving the end of lthe reach and an adjusting-screw adapted to bear against the end of the reach in said socket whereby the chain may be tightened.

7. In a in eter-vehicle, the combination with the reach-frame and the body, of a bracket secured to said frame, a headed pin secured to the body passing through an aperture in said bracket and elastic washers sleeved upon said pin upon opposite sides of said bracket.

8. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of forward and rear axles,'a central reach-frame forming a support for the motor and drive mechanism, pairs of straight leaf-springs respectively projecting forwardly and rearwardly'from said frame in a downwardly-inclined direction 'and connected at their free ends respectively with said forward and rear axles and a body yieldingly supported upon said frame free to rock in aA vertical, longitudinal plane.

9. In a motor-vehicle the combination of a rigid motor-frame, having the motor secured thereto, spring-arms rigidly secured to said frame at the sides and extending to the front and rear with a downward inclination, axles secured to the outer ends thereof, a drive connection from the motor to the rear axle, adjustable connections for the rear springs ICO axle, 93nd steering-wheels pivote'd to the ends 1o of Jhe front axle.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature and steeringwvheels pivoted to the ends of the front axle.

10. In a motor-vehicle the combination of a rigid motor-frame, having the motor secured in presence of two witnesses.

5 thereto spring-arms rigidly secured to said frame t the sides and extending to the front RANSOM E OLDS and rear with a downward inclination, axles Witnesses: I adjustably secured to the outer ends thereof, L. J. WHITTEMORE,

a drive connection from the motor to the rear H. C. SMITH. 

